Toy helicopter



ET AL April 16, 1929.

A. F. BERNIER TOY HELICOPTER Filed June 12; 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 0 V. mm M mi m m? w z m we M /Z w mm April 1929. A. F. BERNIER ET AL 1,708,999

TOY HELICOPTER Filed June 12''. 1928 2 Sheets-Shegt 2 IN V EN TOR5 WILL 64M 5. PAF/VfiLL ALO/VZO F: BER/VIE iii,

Patented it, lit-i290 UNITED STATES 1,708,999 PATENT OFFICE.

ALQIQZO 1 BERNIER AND WILLIAM E. PARNELL, OF S'I. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

TOY HELICOPTER.

Application filed. June 12, 1928. Serial No. 284,770.

This invention relates to wheeled toys and more particularly to a toy helicopter, the general object of the invention being to pro vide a toy embodying a bladed element which, in the use of the toy, will be caused to rapidly rotate and may, at the will of the user, be released and automatically propelled for aerial flight. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a wheeled toy embodying a bladed member, a simple means whereby the member may be rotated at a high rate of speed. from the ground wheel of the toy and yet detained from flight until the child using the toy desires to observe the said bladed member in flight, the invention contemplating, in this connection, a simple means whereby the release of the member may be readily eiiected.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a toy oi the class above referred to, and in which. the flight member comprises a stem and a series of blades radiating from one end thereof, novel friction means c act ing with the stem and driven from the ground wheel of the toy for imparting rotary motion at a high rate of speed to the sald flight member, in] combination with means operable to render the driving means inactive at the moment the flight member 1s re leased for flight, so that tliere will bone retarding eitect exerted by the rotating means at the time the flight member leaves its support upon the frame of the toy.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a toy oi the class referred to, and which toy embodies a flight member oi the construction above briefly described, novel means for supporting the member, by its stem, whereby it may be freely rotated, together with means, normally held inactive, for eilecting propulsion of the tl' it member and a simple means for actuating the restraining means to permit the propelling means to act to propel the member and sinmltaneously effect a disengagement oi the stem oi? the member from the friction element by which it is rotated, so that, in asingle operation, the flight member may be released and propelled.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a toy of the class described, a novel arrangement of the trigger device of the toy such that, by its simple adjustment, the application of rotary motion to the flight memnor may be effected or discontinued, as do;-

sired, so that as the toy is propelled over the ground surface, the child using the same may provide for rotation of the flight mem: her from time to time, as desired, and permit the member to remain stationary at other times. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a toy oi the wheeled type and one embodying a flight member including a stem and blades carried thereby, together with a ground wheel by which the frame ofthe toy is supported for travel, a novel arrangement of a friction wheel between the ground wheel and the stem of the flight member for imparting rotary motion from the ground wheel to the stem of the flight member and in which construction the said friction wheel will be so mounted as to prevent any flight of theflight member except when desired, and without interfering with its rotation.

lVhile the accompanying drawings, and the description which is to follow, constitute a disclosure of the preferred embodiment of, the invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of what is claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the toy embodying the invention, the blades of the flight member being omitted for sake of clearness and the stem oi. the member being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation oi the y;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a member;

Figure 5 is a view in detail, partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction. indicated by the arrows;

l igure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view in detail taken subr-itimtialiy on the line G.6 oi Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 7 is a detail horizontal sectional view takensubstantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 8 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 6 looking in. the direction indicated y t e a r ws plan view of the flight Cir The toy includes in its structure, a frame which is indicated in general by the numeral 1 and'whichis preferably formed of bar metal and comprises a vertical side member 2 and top and bottom members indicated by the numerals 3 and 4, respectively, the members rand 4 extending substantially at right angles from a corresponding side of the side member 2 and the said member 4 havingits outer end turned upwardly at right angles as indicated bythe numeral 5 and constituting a support for one end of the axle 6 of a ground wheel which is indicated by the numeral 7. The ground wheel 7 may be of any desired construction and may be made from any suitable material but in any event is provided with a tire 8 which is of rubber and of solid formation, the tire, as will presently be explained, constituting not only a ground engaging surface for the wheel but also a friction drive surface. The top member 3 of the frame is provided with a downward extension which is indicated by the numeral 9 and which is parallel to the side member 2 and which, at its lower end, is connected with the other end of the axle 6 for the wheel 7.

The toy is to be propelled, over the ground surface, by the aid of a handle bar 10 which is bolted or otherwise secured, at its lower end, as at 11, between the rear ends of bars '12 and 13 which extend in slightly diverging-relation to each other from the'lower or forward end of the handle bar and preferably at an obtuse angle to the said bar and straddle the ground wheel 7 and are connected to the ends of the wheel axle 6', and in order that the propelling means comprising the handle barlO and the bars 12 and 13 may be braced with respectto the frame 1 and the frame likewise braced with respect to the propelling means, a brace bar lat is secured at one end to the side member 9 of the frame 1 as indicated by the numeral 15 and 1s inclined downwardly and rearwardly and secured as at 16, at its other end, to the bar 13. If desired, a short standard 17 may be secured to the lower portion of the frame member 2 preferably by bolts or other removable fasteningelcments 18, and a small 7 ground wheel ,19 may bejournaled at the lower-end of this standard so that the toy may be maintained in a lerel position while being rolled over the ground surface. At this point it will be observed, and particularly by reference to Figures 1, 3 and 6 of the drawings, that the frame 1 is positioned, except for its side member 9, at one side of the ground wheel '7 and that the ground wvheel 19 therefore serves to support that side of the frame which is opposite the side in which the wheel 7 ismounted, and, as will now be described, the mechanism embodying the invention is mounted within the frame 1.

The flight member of the toy is indicated in general by the numeral 20 and the same. comprises a cylindrical stem 21 and a pluralit-y of blades or vanes 22 which radiate. from the upper end of the stem, the blades constituting preferably an integral part of a hub 23 which is secured in any suitable manner to the said end of the stem 21. In order that the said flight member may be supported for rotation, a tubular barrel 24 is pivotally mounted at its lower end upon a pin 25 which extends between a pair of cars 26 which are struck up from the opposite edges of the lower member 4 of the frame 1, the upper end of the barrel extending upwardly through a slot 27 formed. longitudinally in the top member 3 of the frame 1. The barrel is interiorly of a diameter to rotatably receive the stem 21 of the flight member 20 and adapted to be freely and rcmovably fitted into the barrel through the upper end thereof. The barrel 2t serves also as a housing for a supporting or rest member for the lower end of the stem 21 of the flight member 20 and a spring which coacts with the said rest and constitutes the means provided for forcibly propelling the flight member from the barrel, ina manner which will presently be described. The supporting or rest member, which is indicated in general by the numeral 28 comprises a circular disk 29 which is of a diameter to fit rotatably and slidably within the barrel 2t, and the disk is provided at one side with a radially projecting latch member 30 the shank of which extends through a slot 31 formed vertically longitudinally in one side of the'tubular barrel 24:, and by reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings it will be observed that this slot, at its lower end, is provided with a short right angular branch into which the shank of the latch 30 may engage when the support or rest 28 is in the lowered position shown in Figures .7 and t in the barrel 24, it being understood that the engagement of the shank of the latch member 30 in the branch 32 of the slot 31 serves to prevent upward movement of the rest member 28 in the barrel 24. A linger piece projects radially from the disk 25) at the side thereof diametrically the opposite to the side from which the latch member 230 projects, and this finger piece extends through a slot 34: formed to extend vcrti ally longitudinally in the wall of the barrel 2t diametrically opposite the slot 31, the slot 2H having a right angular branch at its lower end corresponding to the branch 32 of the slot 31 in which the shank of the finger piece 33 may engage when the shank of the latch member 30 is in engagement with the said branch 32 of the slot 31.

From the foregoing description and by reference to Figure 6 of the drawings it will be understood that the disk 29 comprislltl llltl ing the rest member 28, constitutes a. support within the barrel 24 upon which the lower end of the stem 21 of the flight member may rest, when the said member 28 is in the position shown in the said figure and in which position the shanks of the latch member 30 and finger piece 33 are engaged in the singularly extending lower ends of the slots through which they project. The ejec ing means for causing delivery of the flight member from the barrel for aerial flight comprises a compression spring 35 which is arranged within the barrel and bears at its lower end. in the lower end of the barrel and at its upper end against the under side of the disk 29, it being evident that the tendency for the spring is to force the disk 29 in the direction of the upper end of the barrel. The slots 31 and 3 1 terminate short of the upper end of the barrel and it will be evident from the drawings that the disk 28 may be rotated tl'irough the medium of the finger piece 33, to disengage the latch member 30 from the npper wall of the branch of the slot 31 thus permitting the disk to assume an elevated position within the barrel in which position the finger piece and latch member will have their shanks seating in the upper ends of the respective slots. In this elevated position of the rest member 28, it will constitute a support for the lower end of the stem 21 of the flight member 20 and, in this position of the rest member, the stem of the flight member will still be rotatable in the barrel but will assume a more elevated position. As will presently be described, means is provided for imparting rotary motion to the flight member in both of its positions above referred to and, as will also be presently described, means is provided for coaction with the latch member 30 to trip the same, when the rest member 28 is in the. lowered position shown .in Figures 5 and G and thus permit the s in'ing to act to impart sudden up ward movement to the member, in the bar rel, and thus cause sudden ejection of the stem of the flight member from the barrel to effect aerial flight of the member.

The nieans referred to above for imparting rotary motion to the flight member 20 comprises a friction wheel 36 which is rotatably mounted upon a short shaft 37 the up per portion of which is reduced in dianmter and. threaded. as indicated by the numeral 38 and has its said portion 38 fitted through a slot 39 formed longitudinally in the top member 3 of the frame 1, a nut 40 being; threaded onto the projecting upper end of the said portion 38 of the sha'ftil't" and tightened to hold the shaftin positions of adjustment within the slot. By reference to Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings it will be observed that the friction wheel 36 is, in this manner, supported for rotation between the periphery of the ground wheel 7 and the adjacent side of the barrel 24, and it will also he observed by reference to these figures that the friction wheel 36 which is provided. with a rubber tired periphery, has one side of its periphery in contact with the rubber tire 8 of the ground wheel 7 and the other side of its periphery in contact with the stem 21 of thefiight member 20, the barrel 24 being formed with an opening 4.1 in its side which is presented toward the wheel 36 so as to accommodate the peripheral portion thereof. Preferably the top member 3 of the frame 1 will be slightly upwardly inclined from its end which is connected with the upper end of the side frame member 2, so that the friction wheel 36 will occupy a plane slightly inclined with respect to the vertical and the advantage in thus positioning' the wheel 36 is that, while the toy may be propelled over the ground surface at a considerable rate of speed and rotary mo tion imparted to the stem 21 of the flight member 20 through the mediinn. of the friction wheel 36 and its engagement with the stem and with the tire of the ground wheel 7, there will be no likelihood of the flight member being propelled into the air, and this ables the user of the toy to propel the same over the ground surface to effect rapid rotation of the flight member while the flight element still retains its assembled relation with respect to the barrel 2st.

It will be understood that it is desirable that the contact between the stem 21 of the flight member and the periphery of the trio-- tion wheeel 86 be sufficiently firm to insure of a steady drive of the stem 21 in the rotation of the wheel and yet it is essential that the wheel 36 offer no frictional resistance to the ejection of the stem from the barrel when the latch member 30 is disengaged from the upper wall of the branch of the slot 31, and as it. is dcsirablejthat toys of this class boas simple in construction and embody as few working parts as are necessary, the present invention contemplates the provision of a single means for normally yieldably holding the barrel 2% in the slightly tilted or inclined position shown in Fig;- ure 6 of the drawings so as to effect the desired firm contact of the stem 21 against the frictional periphery of the wheel 36, and serving also as a means for tripping the latch member 30, so that by the actuation of this single means the rest member 28 is released to permit the spring 35 to act to eject the stem 21 of the flight member from the barrel 2 1 and at the same time relieve tl e barrel of lateral pressure so as to permit the stem 21 to clear the frictional periphery of the wheel 36.

The means referred to above comprises a lever arm 42 which is pivotally mounted near its lower end as at upon the side member 2 of the frame 1, and this arm is preferably of resilient metal and the upper 'end ofthe arm is provided'with a'forward extension 44 which is preferably slightly nose 46 which projects outwardly from the latch member 30, the edge of the nose which is presented toward the said edge of. the arm being concave as shown clearly 1n Figures 7 and 8 f the drawings. By reference to FIOLITGS 5 6 7 and Softhe drawm s 1t w1ll D J 7 D be observed that when the arm42 is in position with its presser finger 44 bearing against the side of the barrel 24 to hold the barrel tilted and hold the stem 21 of the flight member in firm frictional contact with the periphcry of the friction wheel 36, the edge 45 of the arm will be located in proximity to the concaveedge of the nose 46 of the latch member 30 but will not exert any pressure, at such time, against the said edge of the nose. Therefore, when the parts are in the positions illustrated in these figures, rotary motion will be imparted at a relatively high rate of speed, to the flight member through the medium of the friction wheel 36, as the ground wheel 7 travels over the ground surface and, due to the slight angular disposition of the wheel 36, the flight member will at this time be prevented from leaving the barrel 24 in which its stem is rotatably fitted.

In order however that the flight member may be released for aerial flight, a rod 47 is connected at one end as at 48 to the arm 42 substantially at the juncture of the finger 44 with the arm and extends rearwardly at an angletoward the handle bar 10 and terminates in a portion 49 which extends parallel to the handle bar and is slidably supported in bearing eyes 50 upon one side of the said bar, a finger piece 51 being provided at the rear it end of the portion 49 of the said rod 47 where it may be readily engaged by the of the user of the toy and a rearward pull exerted upon the rod a gamst the tension of a spring 52 which is connected at one end to a bend 53 formed in the rod 47 at the forward endof the portion 49 thereof, and at its other end as at54 to the handle bar 10. By reference to Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, it will now be understood that when a rearward pull isjexerted upon the rod 47, the arm 42 will be'rocked upon itspivot 43 thus moving the presserfinger 44 rearwardly and out of engagement with the side of the barrel 24, and,

simultaneously, bringing the edge 45 of the arm 42, below the pivot 43, into engagement with the concave edge of the nose 46 of the latch member and rotating the disk 29 constituting the rest 28, so as to disengage the latch member from the upper side of the branch of the slot 31 and also disengaging the finger piece from the branch of the slot 34 whereupon the member 28 will be released and the spring will act to suddenly eject the stem 21 of the flight member from the barrel.

It will be understood of course that, after the flight member has been ejected from the barrel 24, the rest member 28 will occupy an elevated position within the barrel, and in order that the toy may be reset, it is only necessary to insert the stem 21 of the flight member into the upper end of the barrel and lower the stem into the barrel until the lower end contacts the rest member whereupon downward pressure may be exerted against the hub portion 23 of the flight member to force the rest member 28 downwardly in the barrel thus compressing the spring 35, and when the shanks of the latch member 30 and finger piece have reached the lower ends of the slots 31 and 34 respectively, the finger piece 33 may be grasped and rotary motion be imparted to the. disk 29 comprising the rest member to effect engagement of the shanks of the latch member and finger piece in the lateral extensions of the lower ends of the said slots whereupon the member 28 will be locked in its lowered position and the spring 35 will. be maintained under tension until the rod 47 is again pulled to effect actuation of the arm 42. It will also be understood from the foregoing description that if it is desired to employ the toy to effect rapid rotation of the flight member for the amusement of the child using the same, the flight member may be depressed snfliciently to permit of rotation of the rest member 28 to effect its release and the pressure gradually lcssened on the flight member to permit its stem 21 to move upwardly in the barrel 24 until the rest member 28 has assumed its elevated position within the said barrel, whereupon the toy may be rolled over the ground surface and rotary motion will be imparted to the flight member through the medium of the friction wheel 36, as previously explained. \Vith the parts thus adjusted, there is of course no likelihood or possibility of flight member being ejected from the barrel, but, it it is desired to effect aerial flight of the member, the flight member may be depressed, as before explained, and the rest member 28 rotated to locked position and the parts actuated in the manner previously described.

Having thus described the invention, whatwe claim is:

1. In a toy of the class described, a frame,

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a ground wheel supporting the frame, a bladed flight member, means upon the frame supporting the said member for rotation, means actuated by the ground wheel for imparting rotary motion to the flight member for aerial flight, means for restraining the resilient means from operation, and manually operable means for rendering the restraining means inactive.

3. In a toy of the class described, a frame, a ground wheel supporting the frame, a bladed flight member, means upon the frame supporting the said member for rotation, means actuated by the ground Wheel for imparting rotary motion to the flight member, the said means including a friction wheel driven by the ground wheel and coacting with a part of the flight member to effect rotation thereof upon rotation of the wheel, normally restrained means for projecting the flight member for aerial flight, and means operable to relieve the projecting means of restraint.

l. In a toy of the class described, a frame, a ground wheel supporting the frame, a bladed flight member including a stem, means upon the frame supporting the stem of the said member for rotation, a friction wheel frictionally contacting the ground wheel and driven thereby, the supporting means for the stem of the flight member being movable into and out of position to effect engagement of the stem with the friction wheel, means for projecting the flight member for aerial flight, means restraining the projecting means, and means coacting with the restraining means and with the support for the stem of the flight member and normally holding the supporting means in position to effect engagement of the stem of the flight member with the friction wheel, the said means being operable to permit movement of the supporting means to position to effect disengagement of the stem from the friction wheel and release of the restrainin means.

5. In a toy of the class described, a frame, a ground wheel supporting the frame, a bladed flight member including a stem, a barrel supported for tilting movement upon the frame and rotatably receiving the stem of the flight member, a friction wheel mounted in the frame in peripheral contact with the ground wheel and rotated thereby, and means coacting with the barrel and yieldably holding the same tilted to position with the said stem of the flight member in contact with the periphery of the friction wheel.

6. In a toy of the class described, a frame, a ground wheel supporting the frame, a bladed flight member including a stem, a friction wheel rotatably mounted in the frame and in peripheral engagement with the ground wheel to be driven therefrom, a barrel tiltably mounted in the frame, the stem of the flight member being rotatably mounted in the barrel, a spring within the barrel for ejecting the stem therefrom for aerial flight of the flight member, means normally rendering the spring inactive, and means normally coacting with the barrel to hold the same in position with the stem of the flight member in contact with the friction wheel and operable to simultaneously disengage itself from the barrel and render the spring restraining means inactive.

7 In a toy of the class described, a frame, a ground wheel supporting the frame, a bladed flight member including a stem, a barrel upon the frame rotatably supporting the stem of said member, a friction wheel frictionally contacting the ground wheel and driven thereby, the said barrel being movable toward and from the friction wheel whereby to provide for contact of the stem of the flight member with the periphery of the friction wheel and movement of the stem out of contact, a spring within the barrel, :1 member within the barrel engaged by the spring and constituting a seat for the lower end of the stem, the said member being mow able longitudinally in the barrel, coacting means upon the barrel and the member for holding the member in a lowered position against the tension of the spring, an arm mounted for rocking movement at one side of the barrel, and means manually operable to rock the arm, the arm lmving a portion normally engaging that side of the barrel opposite the. side which is presented toward the friction. wheel to maintain the barrel in a tilted posion to hold the stem in frictional engagement with the friction wheel and having another portion for coaction with the seating member for the stem to release the same from locking engagement with the barrel and to provide for action of the spring to eject the stem from the barrel upon rocking of the arm to disengage its first mentioned portion from the barrel.

8. In a toy of the class described, a frame, a ground wheel supporting the frame, a bladed flight member including a stem, :1 barrel mounted in the frame, the stem of the flight member being rotatably mounted in the barrel, a friction wheel mounted in the frame and peripherally contacting the ground wheel, the stem contacting the friction wheel and being rotated thereby, a

spring within the barrel, the barrel having longitudinal slots in opposite sides thereof terminating at their lower ends in angular branches, a seating member for the stem slidably mounted in the barrel above the spring a and provided-at one side with a latch member projecting through one 015 said slots and at its other side with a finger piece projecting through the other slot whereby the member may be rotatably adjusted, in its lowered position in the barrel, to effect locking engagement of the latch member and finger piece in the branches of the respective slots to hold the member in its said position and thereby maintain the spring under tension, a member mounted. forswinging movement upon the frame and having a portion for eoaction with the latch member whereby, in

means operable to swing the member mounted for swinging movement.

9. In a toy of the class described, a frame, a ground wheel supportin the frame, a bladed flight member including a stem, means upon the frame supporting the stem of the said flight member for rotation, means actuated by the ground wheel for impartin rotary motion to the flight member, the said means including a friction wheel rotatably supported between the ground wheel and the stem, the plane of the wheel being at an angle of inclination to the plane of the ground wheel and the friction wheel being in peripheral frictional contact with the ground wheel and with the stem, means operable to project the flight member for aerial flight, means normally restraining the means for projecting the flight member for aerial flight, and means operable to render the restraining means inactive.

In testimony whereof we atlix our signatures.

ALONZO F. BERN IER. WILLIAM E. PARNELL. 

